ORANGEBURG, S.C. (January 27, 2023) – The South Carolina State men’s tennis team dropped a tough 4-3 defeat at home to visiting Coastal Carolina Thursday (Jan.26th) at the Hardeep Judge Tennis Center.
“I give a lot of credit to South Carolina State. They fought really hard and made us earn the tight win today,” stated head coach Chris Powers. “We definitely have work to do on the practice court next week, but our mentality was really good today in tough conditions.”
Coastal jumped out to an early 1-0 match lead by taking the doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 flights.
The tandem of Aissa Benchakroun at the No.1 spot, Rostislav Haflinger at the No.4 spot and Pedro Sasso at the No.6 all posted convincing wins in single actions for South Carolina State.
CCU’s Guilherme Toresan doubled the Chants’ match lead to 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-4 straight-sets win at the No. 5 singles spot, while teammate Ryuya Ata followed with a 6-2, 6-4 straight-sets win at the No. 2 flight to push the visitors lead to 3-0.
After losses on courts No. 6 and No. 4 in singles play trimmed the Chanticleers’ match lead to one at 3-2, Coastal’s Wayenburg sealed the match win with a third-set, tiebreaking win at 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (4) at the No. 3 spot.
South Carolina State closed the match out with a three-set win at the No. 1 flight to put the final score at 4-3.
The Bulldogs return to action on Feb.4th at Wake Forest in an 3 p.m. showdown in Winston Salem, NC.
Coastal Carolina 4, South Carolina State 3
Doubles
1. Steve Mundt/Carlos Berna Ruiz (CCU) def. Aissa Benchakroun/Benjamen Niv (SCSU) – 6-2
2. Ryuya Ata/Maj Tomac (CCU) vs. Rostislav Haflinger/Pedro Sasso (SCSU) – 4-4
3. Neil O’Connor/Lucas Wayenburg (CCU) def. Bankov/Ivan Pauluychenko (SCSU) – 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 3
Singles
1. Aissa Benchakroun (SCSU) def. Carlos Berna Ruiz (CCU) – 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3
2. Ryuya Ata (CCU) def. Benajmen Niv (SCSU) – 6-2, 6-4
3. Lucas Wayenburg (CCU) def. Bankov (SCSU) – 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (4)
4. Rostislav Haflinger (SCSU) def. Maj Tomac (CCU) – 6-3, 7-6 (2)
5. Guilherme Toresan (CCU) def. Ivan Pauluychenko (SCSU) – 6-3, 6-4
6. Pedro Sasso (SCSU) def. Steve Mundt (CCU) – 6-4, 6-4
Order of Finish: 5, 2, 6, 4, 3, 1
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